Contraction joint



July 8, 1930. A. c. FISCHER CONTRACTION JOINT Original Filed Oct. 19, 1925 Patented July 8, 1930 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE ALBERT C. FISCHER, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, ASSIGNOR TO THE PHILIP CAREY MANU- FACTURING COMPANY, A CORPORATION OF OHIO CONTRAGTION JOINT Application filed October 19, 1925, Serial No. 63,361. Renewed November 26, 1929.

This application contains subject matter disclosed but not claimed in my Patent N 0. 1,655,835, dated January 10, 1928, which bears the filing date January 3, 1922.

My invention relates to a separating plate, various forms of which may be employed. The part that is new and distinct from anything shown in the previous art is that the plate is in one continuous piece, consisting of metal, preferably having upper and lower" flanges, held apart by a grooved central portion, which may be in the shape of an are, a triangle, the right hand portionof an octagon, which would consist of the three lines forming the right hand side, or may be square iriflshape, the first three designs being prefer- My invention relates primarily to single course pavements and permits a double strength single tongue and groove, whereas a corrugated arrangement would divide the strength by oppositely protruding tongues and oppositely receiving grooves, thus weakening the structure thru the employmentof curved lines instead of sharp angles, as disclosed in my invention,which also enables the tongue to be formed in one piece, making for a stronger tongue, said arrangement enabling slabs to set more squarely together than the prior art.

My invention in addition thereto provides for waterproofing between the faces of slabs and in addition provides for expansion and contraction, which is an important feature,

- and which has not been known in the prior art.

This design and style of contraction plate (brings the flanges directly opposite each other, and thecenter arc, tr1angle or octagon 40 depression' thru the plate, supports these flanges in vertical position, both upwardly and downwardly, allowing them to act as straight separating plates, while the center functions as -a' g'roove, and when the concrete' is poured'against the plate there is no interference with the flow of the concrete, so that the concrete on one side forms a slab with an upper and lower straight face, and an intermediate section forming a tongue; while the slab on the other side has an upper and lower straight face with a groove in its intermediate portion which receives the only necessary to press a single plate in one direction to obtain the desired result.

My invention relates primarily to staking in the ground, and the openings may be placed on the upper and lower side of the intermediate section forming the groove, enabling the stake to be placed therethru, holding the plate in a vertical position. Where a double tongue and groove arrangement is provided this cannot be effected, because the vertical flanges interfere with any arrangement of this kind, unless the plate would be so devised as to have one vertical face staggered over the other vertical face, or unless other means were employed which would destroy the plate.

The plate, according to my invention, is

staked in the ground previous to pouring the concrete against it.

The primary feature in my invention is to obtain a separating plate which will accomplish a single tongue and groove construction with an absolutely square setting together of the slabs, in order tc'make a better joint and also minimize'the tendency-of one slab to pull away and separate from the other.

Likewise, because of the depth of the pavement, my invention is particularly adapted to single course concrete and enables the slabs to form with a heavier and stronger single tongue and groove. Also, should it be desirable to prevent rusting, while at the same time utilizing the separating plate for thus forming a tongue and groove joint in the slab,

I prefer to use a waterproof paint which will withstand corrosion as nearly as possible, in order to preserve the plate; and so another form of my invention 1s that of providing a protecting coat of paint for the metal, in order to preserve it from corrosion.

Still another form of my invention is that of providing for a minimum of expansion and contraction, and for this purpose I coat the plate or contraction joint with bituminous material, either fibrated or otherwise, this making it heavier and allowing it to act both as a separating and forming plate of single tongue andgroove slabs, and at the same time providing a compressible material which will take up the expansion and contraction and aid in the waterproofing of the space between the slabs. v

The single tongue and groove design permits of the shaping of the material more readily than a corrugated or any other design, and will not be distorted out of shape as readily. A multiplicity of curves will mean multiplicity of deflections in the material, thus destroying the shape of the slab and weakenin the tongue and grove hold.

. i I do not WlSh to be limited to the reinforcing material which supports the compressible material, nor to the material out of which the separating plate is prepared.

The expansion material may consist, firstly, of an asphaltic mass formed into a pre moulded expansion material, secondly, it may consist of an as haltic mass having mixed with said mass brous material to reinforce the asphaltic mass, in proportions adequate so that the proportion of asphalt will exceed the proportlon offibre, said mass being forfned into a premoulded. expansion mater1a Where the plate is immersed into. bituminous material it is preferred that a blown bituminous material be employed, because of its better I resistance to temperature changes.

Where the plate is immersed in an asphaltic fibrous mixture the fibre content should not exceed more than ten per cent, in order to retain the asphaltic mass in a liquid condition, as too much fibre would stiffen the mass so that immersion would be impractical. Likewise asphaltic material may be placed on either side of the plate and suitigi'eaeee phalt to be pressed as a facing on the plate or the purpose described.

This single tongue and groove division plate need not come to the surface of the concrete, but-may stop within an inch or so of the surface and concrete placed thereover, or the concrete may be suitably edged to the plate, as desired.

In the accompanying drawing the figure is a view in section illustrating my improved joint.

Referring to the drawing in detail a supporting section -b with flanges, -00- coated with a compressible bituminous material aa-.

It can readily be understood that the process of manufactureis simply one of formmg metal, fibre, or compressible expansion material or a combination of the metal with the expansion material, or the fibre with the expansion material, either by adhering one to the other, coating one with the other, press ing the reinforcing sheet with the expansion material, or utilizing the expansion material independently.

Any suitable method may be utilized for painting the single tongue and groove plate, or bituminous material may be coated over the separating plate by immersion in a bituminous material, or the bituminous fibrated material may be poured over the separating plate, or suitable expansion material may be prepared and itself prepared into a separating plate or cemented on a separating plate.

-I claim;

1. An. expansion joint comprising a strip of bituminous material having upper and lower flat portions yoked together by an in termediate tongue and groove portion and instrip being cut to con orm to the configura- 7 tion of the joint, and the plastic material being also formed to conform to the configuration of the joint.

4. An expansion joint comprising a sheet metal strip having upper and lower flat portions yoked together by an intermediate tongue and groove portion, and enveloped in a bituminous jacket, said bituminous jacket having fibre distributed therethru.

5. An expansion joint comprising a reable rolls provided which will enable the asenforcing core having an intermediate tongue 13o menses end oove portion, and a, covering of waterproong materiel surrounding the core 6. An expansion joint comprising e re-enforcing core having upper and lower fiat portions yoked together by an intermediate tongue and groove portion, and a covering of Waterproofing materiel surrounding the core.

v 7. An expansion joint comprising a re-en- V forcing core having upper and. lower fiat portions yoked together by an intermediate tongue and groove portion, and a covering of waterproofing material surrounding and. conforming to the contour of the core.

Signed at Chicago, Illinois, this 13th day of October, 1925.

ALBERT C. FISCR. 

